Tehran 'Vehemently Denies' Shelling Northern Iraq

(RFE/RL) September 3, 2007 -- Iran today denied Iraqi accusations that it is shelling Kurdish separatist targets in northern Iraq.

The Kurdish regional parliament in Iraq has accused both Iran and Turkey of bombing Kurdish territory in Iraq, and has called on the Iraqi government, the UN, and U.S.-led coalition forces to pressure those countries to stop the shelling.


In Tehran today, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi said Tehran "vehemently denies shelling northern Iraq." But he said Iran does "face problems with armed groups who act against the interest of the Iranian, Turkish, and Iraqi nations."


Iranian security forces regularly clash with Kurdish rebels in West Azerbaijan Province, bordering Turkey.


(AFP)

RFE/RL Iraq Report

RFE/RL Iraq Report


SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and analysis on Iraq by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iraq Report."